A   NEW    EDITION. 


"Prom  grave  to  gay,  from  lively  to  severe,  Anthony  J.  Drexel 
Biddle  roams  among  the  fields  and  gardens  of  literature  culling 
with  the  industry  of  the  bee  sweets  of  every  flavor.  To  provoke 
the  risibilities  and  promote  digestion,  try  a  course  of  his 

SHANTYTOWN  SKETCHES 

(For  sale,  excellently  bound  in  cloth,  fancy  colors,  silver  illumi 
nated,  I2mo,  pp.  80.     Price,  25  cents,  by  all  booksellers.) 

The  only  observable  fault  being  that  they  were  compounded  in 
such  homoeopathic  doses.  His  versatile  acquaintance  with  all 
classes  of  dialects,  his  thorough  grasp  of  the  humors  of  a  situation, 
illuminate  the  lines  of  these  laughable  little  sketches  with  an 
electric  brilliancy." — V-ittaburg  Press. 

"A.  J.  D.  Biddle  is  acquiring  a  decided  reputation  as  a  humor 
ist.  " — Charleston  News  and  Courier. 

"There  seems  no  end  to  some  men's  versatility.  Take  Mr. 
Anthony  J.  Drexel  Biddle,  of  Philadelphia,  for  instance.  He  is 
a  fellow  of  the  American  Geographical  Society,  and  has  a  wide 
reputation  as  a  traveler  and  man  of  science.  He  was  well  known 
as  an  historical  and  descriptive  writer,  notably  through  his  book 
on  "The  Madeira  Islands,"  which  was  read  everywhere.  Well,  one 
day  not  long  ago  he  branched  out  into  a  new  field  and  wrote  a 
most  ridiculous  'Froggy  Fairy  Book'  for  children  that  made  an 
instantaneous  hit.  And  now  here  he  is  with  a  new  volume, 
'Shantytown  Sketches,'  told  in  the  dialects  of  the  various  divis 
ions  of  the  lower  five,  and,  more  than  that,  well  told.  His  Irish 
men  are  real  Irishmen,  anfl  talk  like  Irishmen,  and  his  Germans 

never    forget    where    they    came    from 

One  can't  help  feeling  that  Mr.  Biddle  should  add  just  a  little 
more  to  his  rather  formidable  title— he  should  be  styled  Good 
Fellow  of  the  American  Geographical  Society." — Kansas  City  Times. 

"  'Shantytown  Sketches'  is  brim  full  of  humorous  anecdotes 
and  stories,  some  of  which  have  appeared  in  many  prominent 
journals  and  comic  weeklies,  and  which  have  been  favorably  re 
ceived  and  commented  upon.  Besides  these  are  a  number  of  dia 
lect  sketches  which  have  hitherto  been  unpublished.  The  work 
proves  Itself  to  be  the  production  of  genius."—  Scranton  Republican. 

The  above  work  is  for  sale  by  all  booksellers,  or  will  be  sent  by 
Drexel  Biddle,  Publisher,  postage  prepaid,  to  any  part  of  the  United 
States,  Canada,  or  Mexico,  or  by  Gay  &  Bird,  to  any  part  of  Great 
Britain,  on  receipt  of  the  price. 


A   NEW    EDITION. 


"Some  of  the  dialect  selections  are  well  suited  for  public  reci 
tation."—  Trot/  Ritdgct. 

"The  author  makes  many  decided  hits,  and  his  humor  and 
sprightllness  are  unfailing." — Suit  Lake  City  Trilmne. 

"The  book  will  be  read  extensively  for  its  humor."  —  The 
Bookseller. 

"It  sparkles  with  fun  from  cover  to  cover."— Burlingtan  Hnu-k 
Eye. 

"Shows  an  acquaintance  with  the  Irish,  German  and  negro 
dialects  and  the  characteristics  of  the  ignorant  people  of  these 
races.  Mr.  Anthony  J.  Drexel  Biddle  is  the  author,  and  the  dozen 
short  sketches  which  comprise  the  volume  prove  him  to  be  an 
appreciative  observer  with  a  keen  sense  of  the  humorous  element 
in  the  lives  of  the  foreign  elements  of  our  population.  All  the 
sketches  are  short,  terse  and  wholesomely  funny,  and  show  an 
intimate  acquaintance  with  the  dialect  and  colloquisims  of  the  un 
educated  poor  of  a  great  city 

Mr.  Biddle's  experience  as  a  newspaper  reporter  has  given  him 
opportunities  to  observe  the  phases  of  life  of  which  these  sketches 
treat,  with  which  many  individuals  are  acquainted,  and  the  school 
ing  of  his  profession  has  made  it  easy  for  him  to  catch  the  central 
thoughts  of  the  situations  and  surround  them  with  the  auxiliary 
episodes  to  make  them  complete. 

"  'Shantytown  Sketches'  is  light  and  amusing  reading,  and 
many  of  them  are  especially  well  suited  for  recitation  on  the  con 
cert  platform." — Boston  Times. 

"Mr.  Biddle  is  a  successful  maker  of  books,  and  he  wields  a 
graceful  pen." — Boston  Globe. 

"These  sketches  are  in  dialect  and  the  correctness  with  which 
the  author  handles  the  subject  shows  that  he  is  gifted  with  great 
powers  of  observation. 

"The  writer  who  gives  his  own  ideas  of  the  dialect  of  the  nu 
merous  characters  in  our  midst,  soon  finds  himself  astray,  indeed 
an  object  of  ridicule. 

"Mr.  Biddle  approaches  the  subject  carefully,  showing  that 
he  not  only  observes,  but  that  he  has  studied  the  eccentricities  and 
characteristics  of  the  several  nationalities  he  depicts 

"Mr.  Biddle's  long  service  as  a  newspaper  man  serves  him  in 
good  stead  in  this  character  of  sketch.  He  has  met  and  conversed 

The  above  work  is  for  sale  by  all  booksellers,  or  will  be  sent  by 
Drexel  Biddle,  Publisher,  postage  prepaid,  to  any  part  of  the  United 
States,  Canada,  or  Mexico,  or  by  Gay  &  Bird,  to  any  part  of  (ireat 
Britain,  on  receipt  of  the  price. 


A   NEW    EDITION. 


with  the  people  of  whom  he  writes,  he  has  noticed  their  peculiar 
ities,  and  now  that  he  has  turned  his  attention  to  book  writing 
he  has  an  immense  stock  from  which  he  can  draw.  Being  still  in 
the  heydey  of  youth,  and  with  perceptive  faculties  which  develop 
with  experience;  he  is  still  adding  to  the  store,  so  that  there  is  no 
appreciable  diminution  of  his  stock  in  trade. 

"Nor  does  he  confine  himself  to  prose.  The  divine  afflatus  is 
summoned  at  will.  "Remember  und  take  Varning"  has  not  only 
the  proper  rhythmic  jingle,  but  embodies  a  wise  sentiment  and 
tells  it  briefly  and  to  the  point. 

"This  work  will  be  a  decided  accession  to  the  home  library."— 
Philadelphia,  Evening  Item. 


Opinions  of  the  British  Press. 

"  'Shantytown  Sketches'  contains  humorous  prose  and  poetry  in 
Irish  brogue,  broken  German,  and  the  negro  dialect.  Verses  in 
the  style  of  Hans  Brcitmnnn  are  amusing."—  The  Manchester  Gunr- 
dinn. 

"Well  printed  on  thick  paper,  and  prettily  bound. "—Gl<ix!/tnv 
Ili-rdld. 

"These  sketches  are  exceedingly  well  done.  They  show  a  close 
acquaintance  with  Irish,  Je"w,  German,  and  Negro-English  as  It 
is  spoken  in  America.  The  sketches  are  full  of  humor,  and  paint 
the  lighter  side  of  life  amongst  the  classes  indicated." — 'The  Shef 
field  Independent. 

"A  series  of  popular  and  humorous  pieces  In  dialect."— The 
Scotsman,  Edinburgh. 


LONDON : 

GAY  &  BIRD,  22  Bedford  Street,  Strand. 


PHILADELPHIA : 
DBBXEL  BIDDLE,  Walnut  Street. 


IN   THE    FASHIONABLE   QUARTER. 


AfiantgtoWi)  Aketcl]es 


BY 

ANTHONY   J.    DREXEL    BIDE)LE 

Author  of  "  A  Dual  Role  and  Other  Stories,"  etc. 
ILLUSTRATED   BY 

CLARENCE    SNYDER 


{Sixth  Edition} 


PHILADELPHIA  : 

DREXEL    BIDDLE,    PUBLISHER 

WALNUT  STREET 
1899 


COPYRIGHT,  1897,  BY 
ANTHONY  J.  DREXEL   BIDDLE. 


JSrotber 
XuMow 


2061765 


CONTENTS 


DOWN    SHAMROCK    ALLEY 

PAGE 

MRS.  MULHOONEY'S  RECEIVING  DAY n 

O'BLATHER'S  LECTURE  ON  "  ARNITHOLOLOGY  "       .        .        .17 
A  PETITION  FROM  DWELLERS  IN  SHANTYTOWN      .        .        .25 

MIT    VRIENDS 

REMEMBER  UNO  TAKE  YARNING 31 

ADVICK  TO  A  NEWSPAPER  REPORTER 35 

AN  HEIRESS 39 

MEETINGS    OF    THE    GRAND    WATERMELON- 
PATCH    DEBATING    SOCIETY 

AN  INTERRUPTED  DEBATE  ON  THE  WOMAN'S  RIGHTS  QUES 
TION       45 

BROTHER  WINSLOW'S  DISCOURSE  ON  "  DE  MODERN  PEOPLE 
AM  EXACTLY  LAIKE  DE  ANCIENTS" 51 

AT  THE  THEATRE— FROM  THE  GALLERY  STANDPOINT    .    57 
POLITICS 64 


ILLUSTRATIONS 


PAGE 

IN  THE  FASHIONABLE  QUARTER    ....      FRONTISPIECE 

MRS.  MULHOONEY'S  RECEPTION 12 

O'BLATHER,  THE  ORNITHOLOGIST        .        .        .        .        .        .     l8 

"WITNESS  OUR  SIGNACHEWRS" 26 

"  VON  DAY  VILE  TEMPORIZING  ON  A  MORALIZING  BLAN"    .    32 
ADVICE  TO  A  NEWSPAPER  REPORTER  FROM  "  EIN  VRIEND  "  .    36 

"VE  SUFFERED  MIT  SHIP  DISEASE" 40 

AN  INTERRUPTED  DEBATE 46 

BROTHER  WAMPUS  WINSLOW'S  DISCOURSE        .        .        .        .52 

WITH    GRACE    WELL    BEFITTING    THE   WINNERS    IN    THE 
CAKE  WALK 58 


DOWN  SHAMROCK  ALLEY 


Mrs.  Mulhooney's  Receiving  Day 


MRS.    MULHOONEY'S   RECEPTION. 


OOD  afthernoon,  Mrs.  Mulhooney,  an'  this 
is  yer  day  fer  resavin',  is  it?" 

"Ah  moy,  an'  is  thot  you,  Mrs.  O'Conner?  Yis 
this  is  moy  day  'to  home/  an'  it's  glad  Oi  be  to  see 
you.  Take  a  seat  by  the  foire  here,  an'  come  in! 
An'  how  be  yez  shtanding  the  atmosphere  this  cloi- 
matei" 

"Oh!      It's  doyin'  Oi  am,  Mrs.  Mulhooney!" 

"Aye,  yer  face  looks  ill,  Mrs.  O'Conner.  Ye  should 
take  a  roide  in  thim  new  electhric  cars  wot  runs  on 
Catharine  Street- now.  Begob,  it's  a  great  thing  fer 
Philadelphie  to  hov  thim — an'  on'y  five  cents  too, 
Mrs.  O'Conner, fer  a  nice  afthernoon's  roide  from  wan 
ind  av  the  metrolopus  to  the  other.  It  would  do  yer 
health  good  to  take  one,  fer  indade  it  was  on'y  yist- 
erday  thot  Pat  says  ter  me:  'Faith,  an'  Mrs.  O'Conner 
looks  es  if  she  were  goin'  ter  be  the  cause  of  a  "wake" 
soon,'  an'  he  was  roight,  fer  indade  yer  look  kinder 
thot  way." 

"Faith,  Mrs.  Mulhooney,  an'  it's  a  roight  com- 
fortin'  an'  sympathitic  friend  yez  are — an'  how  is 
Pat  doin'  now?" 

13 


SHANTYTOWN  SKETCHES. 

"Oh,  foinly,  Mrs.  O'Conner;  he's  struck  a  job  av 
wurrk  over  to  Wist  Philadelphie  wid  an'  '  upper  ten 
family.'  " 

"An'  phwat's  he  doin'  there?" 

"Roiding  on  the  top  av  a  carriage  all  over  the  city, 
as  if  he  owned  the  whole  concern,  wid  the  Misses 
sittin'  quoiet  loike  insoide,  an'  he's  gettin'  thot  shtuck 
up,  Mrs.  O'Conner,  ez  he  wouldn't  aven  take  aff  his 
hat  whin  he  drove  past  me  the  other  day,  an'  me  his 
woife,  too.  He  tould  me  aftherwards  thot  he  moight 
git  the  bounce  ef  he  took  aff  his  hat  to  anybody  whoile 
he  wuz  settin'  an  the  box.  He  said  ther  Misses  didn't 
allow  her  coachman  to  bow  to  them  wat  they  know 
— noice  manners  thot  they  teach  among  the  'upper 
ten,'  phwhat?" 

"Och,  Mrs.  Mulhooney,  the  loike  wuz  never 

heerd  tell  av  before An  ph what's  ailin'  the  goat? 

Niver  a-wunst  did  he  offer  to  run  at  me  whin  Oi 
kirn  in!" 

"Willie's  bin  ailin'  since  this  toime  lashst  Chues- 
day,  whin  he  ate  moy  hat.  The  hat  pins  '11  show 
t'rough  his  skin  soon,  an'  thin  Oi'll  pull  'em  out  wid  a 
monkey-wrench . ' ' 

"Mrs.  Mulhooney! 

"But  shpakin'  av  pullin'  remoinds  me  av  me  brud- 

14 


MRS.   MULHOONEY' S   RECEIVING    DAY. 

der's  cousin.  She's  just  baught  the  foinest  sit  av 
teeth  iver  owned  in  our  family.  Siveral  av  her  teeth 
wuz  givin'  her  pains,  an'  she  conceaved  the  plan  to 
hov  'em  all  pulled,  which  she  done.  Her  new  ones 
wuz  four  months  a  makin',  an'  their  cost  yez  will 
doubtless  obsarve  in  nixt  wake's  'Hibernian.' 

"But  Oi  must  be  an0,  Mrs.  Mulhooney.  Oi  shup- 
pose  yer  goin'  to  do  honor  this  avenin'  ter  the  return 
av  Mr.  O'Blather,  by  lindin'  yer  prisence  ter  the  oc 
casion  av  his  lecture." 

"Boy  rights  Oi  am,  Mrs.  O'Conner,  fer  Oi  hare  thot 
O'Blather's  not  on'y  the  coming  man,  but  thot  he's 
came.  He's  bristed  the  ocean  wave  in  search  av 
knowledge,  ain't  he?" 

"He  hov,  an'  we'll  all  turn  out  ter  welcome  him 
back  ter  the  land  av  Oirish  stews  an'  politics." 

"Well,  since  yez  must  be  lavin'  Oi  shuppose  ye'll 
depart,  Mrs.  O'Conner.  It's  damp  weather,  an'  Oi 
hope  the  rain  do  not  effect  yer  spirits." 

"Oi  nivir  mix  dhrinks,  Mrs.  Mulhooney,  t'anks. 
Oi  kape  the  cork  in  me  spirits  bottle  this  weather,  so 
the  water  do  not  dhrip  in  t'rough  the  neck.  Good 
day." 


15 


O'Blather's  Lecture  on  "  Arnitholology " 


O'BLATHER.   THE   ORNITHOLOGIST. 


«  A  KNTTHOLOLOGY  is  wan  av  the  best  known 
**  methods  av  shtudyin'  burrids  an'  their  cus 
toms,"  said  Mr.  O'Blather,  addressing  the  cultured 
meeting  assembled  to  hear  his  learned  discourse  on 
feathered  foicl. 

Shamrock  Alley  elite  were  in  attendance  that  even 
ing  to  do  honor  to  Mr.  O'BlatherV return  from  "fur- 
ren  paarts."  He  had  been  on  a  business  trip  to 
India,*  he  explained  by  way  of  introduction  to  his 
discourse,  and,  "Whoile  in  the  heathen  land,"  (a  stay 
of  some  four  days,)  he  had  undertaken  "the  shtudy 
av  the  burrid  which  in  India  flourishes  in  profusion." 

In  an  appropriate  and  poetical  manner,  Mr. 
O'Blather  first  touched  upon  the  "Burrids  av  beauty 
an'  av  sang."  In  this  connection  he  said : 

"The  burrids  av  sang  are  plentiful  in  their  rarity. 
They  flourish  manifold  an'  numerous. 


*  The  nature  of  Mr.  O'Blather's  business  trip  may  be  explained 
in  that  he  had  shipped  for  the  round  voyage,  in  the  capacity  of 
stevedore,  on  an  eastern  bound  tramp  steamer  which  touched  at 
Ceylon. 

19 


SHANTYTOWN   SKETCHES. 

"Firrist  there  is  the  mocking-burrid  thot  can  ape 
any  other  burrid's  voice  an'  intonation  better  thon 
any  ape  can  ape  a  monkey,  which,  ez  yez  all  know, 
is  great  at  impersonations  an'  imitations.  In  truth, 
the  mocking-burrid  is  to  the  race  av  feathered  fowl 
what  the  hyena  is  to  the  race  av  quadruped  four- 
footed  bastes.  As  moy  learned  listeners  doubtless 
know,  Oi  will  not  tell  them  thot  'hyena'  manes  in 
Indian  to  imitate,  or  above  imitation — 'hy'  maneing 
above,  an'  'ena'  maneing  any — above  any,  or  above 
any  at  imitation;  fer  ye  know  thot  to  thranslate  a 
thrue  maneing,  yez  must  always  lave  some  word  to 
the  imagination,  an'  then  put  it  in  to  make  sense — 

A  unanimous  murmur  of  admiration  arose  from 
the  spell-bound  audience  at  this  philosophical  and  ap 
parently  logical  explanation;  and  thus  encouraged, 
Mr.  O'Blather  continued: 

"Far  be  it  from  me,  ladies  an'  gentlemen,  to  ex 
temporize  an  the  hyena's  lonely  laugh,  or  av  how  he 
imitates  the  crying  av  an  innocent  babe  in  the  torrid 
desert.  The  hyena  is  a  king  av  imitators;  he  is  an 
actor  among  bastes,  but  the  mocking-burrid  is  his 
superior,  an'  it's  av  burrids  Oi  am  shpakin'.  Faith, 
the  mocking-burrid  is  a  burrid,  an'  then  there  is  a 
cock-or-two  (cockatoo)  an'  a  screech-owl. 

20 


O' BLATHER'S  LECTURE  ON  "ARNITHOLOLOGY." 

"But  the  purtiest  songster  av  thim  all  is  the 
chicken-patty.  There  is  always  a  rayson  fer  the 
namin'  av  a  species,  an'  Oi  nade  not  tell  yez  afther 
whom  the  chicken-patty  is  called;  fer  av  course,  yez 
hev  all  heard  tell  av  the  world-wide  lady  singer,  Mrs. 
Patti. 

"Now,  the  chicken-patties  are  the  religious  burrids 
av  the  natives,  who,  though  heathens,  are  great  wor 
shippers  in  their  own  pagan  fashion.  The  chicken- 
patties  are  kept  in  the  temples,  where  they  are  the 
swate  imblems  av  musical  harmony,  peace  an'  love." 
On  being  interrupted  and  asked  by  one  of  his  in 
terested  hearers  to  "give  a  description  of  a  chicken- 
patty,"  Mr.  O'Blather  appeared  for  an  instant  discon 
certed.  But  he  quickly  regained  his  self-command, 
and,  drawing  himself  up  to  his  full  height,  announced 
with  dignity  and  grave  enthusiasm  that  "the  chicken- 
patty  wiiz  beyond  description." 

Then,  apparently  annoyed  at  the  untimely  inter 
ruption,  Mr.  O'Blather  paused.  On  being  urged  by 
his  hearers,  he  condescended  to  proceed,  however. 

"The  chicken-patty  is  the  swate  imblem  to  the  In 
dian  temple  as  the  dove  is  the  howly  imblem  av  the 
Christian  church. 

"An',  whoile  touchin'  an  temples,  it  \vould  be  ap- 


SHANTYTOWN   SKETCHES. 

propriate  to  till  yez  av  the  bun-ids  av  prayer.  In 
English  these  very  burrids  are  called  carrion,  an'  they 
do  carry  on  outrageous  at  the  temples,  though  the 
prastes  niver  shtop  thim,  fer  they  call  thim  howly. 
There  niver  is  a  wake  in  this  pagan  land,  fer  all  the 
dead  corpses  are  placed  soide  by  soide  an  the  walls 
av  the  temples,  where  they  becomes  pray  fer  the  bur- 
rids  av  prayer  what  picks  them  to  pieces  wid  heart- 
rendering  shrieks." 

Here  another  of  the  audience  interrupted,  and 
asked  the  lecturer  if  he  did  not  mean  birds  of  prey 
instead  of  birds  of  prayer:  he  stated  that  he  kept  a 
bird  store,  and  merely  inquired  for  information. 

Still  another  of  the  interested  hearers  piped  up 
and  said,  "Hy'r  lave  aff  about  burrids,  an'  tell  us  av 
the  Indian  war-dance." 

A  more  inopportune  interruption  could  not  have 
occurred.  Mr.  O'Blather  grew  furiously  indignant, 
and  stated  that  he  would  close  his  lecture  "Widout 
further  comment."  And  which  he  did,  first  stating 
that  "Indian  war-dances  do  not  occur  in  the  Oriental 
East,  but  only  take  place  among  the  untamed  Indians 
av  America's  woild  peraries." 

But  while  three  of  the  audience  had  been  so  ill- 
bred  as  to  interrupt  the  lecturer,  the  others  had  lis- 

22 


O' BLATHER'S  LECTURE   OJV  "  ARNITHOLOLOGY." 

tened  with  profound  attention.  However,  none  now 
urged  Mr.  O'Blather  to  exercise  further  his  powers 
of  oratory.  So  Mr.  O'Blather  descended  from  the 
platform.  And  he  was  soon  one  of  the  merriest  par 
takers  of  the  feast  of  beer  and  cheese  that  followed, 
at  his  expense. 

Later,  when  daylight  trickled  in  through  the  smoky 
windows  of  the  saloon,  it  found  many  of  O'Blather's 
guests  still  making  merry.  Upon  one  of  the  ladies 
sweetly  asking  the  Indian  Ornithologist  to  again  tune 
up  his.  lyre,  he  refused  by  murmuring  that  he  felt 
"too  full  for  utterance." 

He,  however,  finally  did  condescend  to  sing  a  short 
ballad,  which  he  stated  to  be  the  most  sacreligious 
and  soul-offending  of  all  ballads  to  the  turbaned  In 
dian.  It  was  against  the  sacred  bird  of  India,  the 
chicken-patty,  ho  announced  in  awe-inspiring  voice; 
and  then  he  slowly  chanted, 

"Oh  the  chickens  grow  so  tall 
Thot  they  kill  them  in  the  fall, 
And  they  eat  them  feathers  and  all, 
Down  in  Bombay." 

At  the  conclusion  three  cheers  were  given  for 
O'Blather,  and  the  party  broke  up. 

23 


A  Petition  from  Dwellers  in  Shantytown 

to  have  Mention  made  of  them 

in  the  Newspaper 


WITNESS   OUR    SIGNACHEWRS.' 


T^O  the  Reporters: — "Iverybody  takes  their  hat 

*  aff  to  me"  has  nothin'  to  do  wid  the  question 
in  this  case. 

Why  in  the  divil  do  yerz  high-flown  reporters  al 
ways  publish  all  "society  news"  among  the  big  bugs, 
an'  niver  so  much  as  mention  wan  av  onr  names? 

Slmre'n  this  is  a  free  country,  ain't  it,  an'  hoven't 
we  as  much  av  a  roight  ter  be  in  the  paper  as  the 
next  feller? 

We  hov',  indade! 

Faith,  an'  didn't  we  rade  in  last  Monday's  paper 
a  long  article  about  a  Miss  Wayup  givin'  a  house 
party  out  to  the  Divil's  Inn*  (is  it  they  call  it?),  and 
didn't  the  article  tell  the  names  av  ivery  wan  prisent? 

Yis,  indade;  ayven  to  a  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Cook,  which 
is  the  stylish  way,  we  suppose,  thot  yez  make  men 
tion  av  the  cook  and  his  woife! 

Now,  an  the  other  hand,  there's  Pat  O'Conner,  who 
is  just  afther  givin'  a  Wake,  in  commemoration  av 
his  dead  Grandmother  (the  Lord  rest  her  soul),  the 
loikes  av  which  has  not  been  surpassed  in  grandeur, 

*  Devon  Inn. 

27 


SHANTYTOWN  SKETCHES. 

for  years,  in  this  paart  av  the  town.  Not  wan  word 
did  yerz  publish  about  thot  in  yer  blamed  society 
news. 

We  also  obsarve,  wid  great  sarcasm,  thot  we  read 
wid  pleasure  the  names  av  all  the  stayers  down  to  the 
seashore  last  week,  an'  the  McMurphys  an'  McGuires 
who  wor  resoidin'  at  the  Wayside  Inn,  wor  niver  men 
tioned  at  all. 

These  are  only  some  illustrations  av  a  big  problem 
which  is  worryin'  us  Americans  down  here  greatly, 
an'  unless  we  see  our  names  in  the  "society  news" 
pretty  soon,  the  whole  entoire  population  av'  Shanty- 
town  will  niver  so  much  ez  look  at  yer  blamed  paper 
again. 

If,  likewise,  also,  at  ony  tonne,  wan  av  you  re 
porters  should  want  to  become  a  policeman,  we'll 
make  it  hot  fer  him. 

Witness  our  signachewrs: 

JAMES  McGiNNis, 
BILLY  McGuiRE, 

TOM  O'CONNER, 

(The  brother  of  Pat  who  gave  the  wake.) 
PATRICK  MURPHY, 
TIM  SEELEY, 

O'REILEY. 


MIT  VPIENDS 


Remember  Und  Take  Yarning 


''VON    DAY   VILE   TEMPORIZING   ON    A    MORALIZING    BLAN." 


\  7  ON  day  vile  temporizing 

On  a  moralizing  blan, 
It  shtruck  me,  how  der  shky  grow?  dark 
Chust  pefore  der  rain  pegan. 

Dere's  someding  alvays  varns  vone, 
Like  an  aftenvards  pefore: 
Like  der  motion  ohf  a  moving 
Heralds  slamming  ohf  a  door. 

A  rattle-snake  does  rattle 
As  it  goils  to  take  a  spring; 
Und  a  bee  does  do  some  buzzing 
Chust  pefore  it  tries  to  sting. 

Remember  und  take  varning 
Vrom  dese  blain  und  simple  vordt?, 
Dot  a  someding  alvays  happens 
Pefore  Happening  occurs. 


Advice  to  a  Newspaper  Reporter  from 

"  Von  Grand  Vriend  ohf  Der  Profession " 


ADVICE    TO    A    NEWSPAPER    REPORTER    FROM        EIN    FRIEND 


reporter's  life  vas  von  grand  series  ohf  ox- 
citing  coincidences  und  adventures  in  Bohe 
mia — don't  em?     Ain't  it?     Is  it  nod? 

Der  reporting  race  vas  ein  schmall  vite  race  py 
demselves,  coming  originally  from  dot  land  Bohemia, 
but  now  mostly  Creoles. 

Der  brincibal  raquirement  of  ein  reporter  should 
pe  to  have  von  strong  institutions  und  blenty  of  real 
istic  seashore  sand;  der  rest  vas  gained  py  hard  exper 
iences  und  dimes,  outside  ohf,  on  top  ohf,  underneath 
—don't  'em? 

Der  reporter's  politics  vas  not  his  own,  as  dey  vas 
governed  entirely  py  dot  party  which  is  nod  in  der 
box;  or,  in  odder  vordts,  he  must  vote  for  nobody" 
somedimes  und  somebody  no  dimes! 

Games  vas  good  recriations,  aber  der  fellows  vat 
plays  ball  mit  dere  feet  make  me  feel  like  I  vas  on 
poard  ship  in  onbleasant  vedder!  Dis  vorldt  vas  full 
of  laziness  und  shtupidity,  aber  der  latter  does  some- 
dimes  go  der  former  pefore!  It  don't  vas  efery  plack, 

37 


SHANTYTOWN   SKETCHES. 

threatening  cloud  your  head  ofer  vat  makes  you  put 
up  your  umbrella;  likewise,  also,  vat? 

I  vill  here  state,  howsomefer,  dot  I  pegan  mit  der 
intentions  of  ending  somedime,  und  der  dime  lias 
came!  Dese  vas  hardt  dimes — don't  'em?  -Der 
vonce  vas  plenty — ain't  it?  Haf  lots  ohf  cheek  und 
act  as  if  you  vas  living  in  Gaul! 

Concluding  vas  not  easy  ven  interesting,  aber  I 
must  stop!  "Der  column  vas  chust  completed."  So 
good-pye  until-yesterday. 


An  Heiress 


"VE  SUFFERED    MIT   SHIP    DISEASE." 


r  sommer  ven  die  sun  game  up 
It  vos  apout  vour  o'clock. 
Mein  frau  und  me,  ve  used  to  rise 
Mit  der  growing  ohf  der  cock. 

But  now  I've  got  lots  ohf  money 
LTnd  a  fine,  spanking  daughter. 
I  t'ink  I  glose  mein  shop,  und  take 
Mein  child  agross  de  vater. 

So  up  ve  packs  und  'vay  ve  goes 
A  sailing  over  de  seas. 
Upon  de  ocean  vide,  rolling, 
Ve  suffered  mit  ship  disease. 

Landed.     Ve  done  der  gondinent, 
Meinself  und  mein  frau  und  girl. 
Und  den  ve  vent  to  Gross  Britain 
To  find  a  duke  or  an  earl. 

I  reads  an  advertisement:  a 
Lady  in  society 

Vould,  vor  a  stated  sum  baid  down, 
Gif  girls  nodoriety. 


SHA  NTYTO  WN   SKE  TCHES. 

I  answered  de  advertisement, 
Und  de  lady  sent  vor  me. 
I  handed  her  von  hundred  pounds. 
Den  she  gave  mein  girl  a  tea. 

Bnt  such  a  growd  ohf  dudes  und  gawkes 

I  nefer  pefore  haf  seen 

As  game  in  to  meet  de  heiress. 

I  t'ink  dey  t'ought  I  vas  green. 

Mein  daughter,  she  got  disgusted 
Mit  de  parties,  fetes  und  teas, 
Dough  she  got  lots  ohf  -proposals 
Vrom  nobles,  upon  deir  knees. 

She  didn't  care  vor  Englishmen, 
Deutsch  or  Union  men  vas  pest. 
Ve  grossed  pack  to  America. 
Shall  I  tell  to  you  de  rest? 

Veil,  mein  daughter's  not  yet  married. 
She's  refused  a  Count  vrom  France. 
I  really  don't  know  vat  to  do! 
Von't  you  gome  und  take  a  chance? 


MEETINGS  Or 

THE  GRAND  WATERMELON-PATCH 
DEBATING  SOCIETY 


An  Interrupted  Debate  on  the  Woman's 
Rights  Question 


AN    INTERRUPTED    DEBATE. 


TO  dose  gaddered  in  Conbersation  Hall  dis 
ebenin',  I  hab  pleasure  in  introduciii'  de 
'baters  ob  de  occasion/'  quoth  the  master  of  the  cere 
monies,  a  tall,  solemn  looking  negro. 

His  announcement  was  greeted  by  a  flutter  of  ex 
citement  among  the  audience:  gossipy  grannies  and 
ogling  damsels  craned  their  heads  forward  to  catch 
the  first  glimpse  of  Mr.  Speak  Easy,  the  brilliant  but 
opposing  candidate  for  the  honors  of  the  evening. 
Mr.  Speak  Easy  stepped  out  upon  the  platform,  and 
made  his  bow  of  acknowledgment  to  a  welcome  of 
very  faint  applause.  He  appeared  as  representative 
from  the  Philadelphia  Anti-Blumer  Club,  an  organi 
zation  in  small  favor  down  Colored  Street.  But  he 
iras  a  city  swell. 

Mr.  Philander  Wampus  Winslow,  the  popular 
member  of  the  Watermelon-Patch  Society,  was  next 
presented.  He  was  a  fat,  jolly  man  with  a  counte 
nance  as  black  as  anthracite.  The  visitor  was  ac 
corded  the  courtesy  of  the  floor  for  the  first  twenty 
minutes;  but  he  declined,  stating  that  he  preferred 

47 


SHA  NTYTO  WN   SKE  TCHES. 

to  hear  the  argument  of  his  opponent  before  making 
any  remarks  himself. 

Brother  Philander  therefore  arose,  and  a  stamping 
of  feet  and  clapping  of  hands  caused  him  to  refrain 
from  speaking  for  some  moments.  As  the  noise  sub 
sided  he  cleared  his  throat  with  excessive  violence, 
and,  striking  a  dramatic  attitude,  began: 

"De  woman's  rights  women. 
Dey  has  but  one  song: 
Dey  wants  all  deir  rights,  an' 
Dey  wants  to  right  wrong." 

Mr.  Speak  Easy  sprang  to  his  feet.  "Pardon  me, 
Mistah  Chairman,"  he  interrupted,  "ef  I  venture  to 
conjecture  that  the  ladies'  rights  subject  does  not 
touch  upon  the  question  of  penmanship.  Did  I  not 
understahn'  mah  worthy  rival  to  say  that  the  ladies 
possessed  the  desire  to  write  wrong?" 

"Not  at  all,  sah,"  exclaimed  Brother  Philander, 
indignantly. 

The  chairman  stumbled  to  his  feet  and  asked, — 

"Jest  what  did  you  say,  Philander?  I  am  regret- 
fulling,  but  I  disremembah." 

Philander  chuckled:  "Guess  you  wuz  'bout  do/dn' 
off;  I'll  repeat  et  fo'  youah  obligation." 

48 


AN  INTERRUPTED   DEBATE. 

A  gaudily  dressed  negro  rose  in  the  audience.  "Dey 
wants  to  right  wrong  ob  co'se,"  he  said.  "We  all 
undahstan's!  An'  dat's  all  ets  needed." 

A  fat,  old  woman,  a  few  seats  removed,  nodded 
her  wooly  head  approvingly.  "Da's  a  mighty  brainy 
poem!  Mighty  brainy!  Mistah  Winslow's  gwyne 
ter  loin  dis  hyar  'scussion  suah!" 

Brother  Philander  repeated  the  four  lines  of  his 
verse  slowly  and  with  much  emphasis;  and,  as  he  con 
cluded,  the  women  of  the  audience  screamed  in  their 
enthusiasm  and  delight. 

Mr.  Chairman  stepped  to  the  front  of  the  platform ; 
his  manner  was  very  nervous  as  he  turned  partially 
around  so  that  the  sweep  of  his  vision  might  include 
Mr.  Speak  Easy  as  well  as  the  audience. 

"Ah  trust,"  he  said,  "dat  dere'll  be  no  disturbance. . 
Fo'  none  ain't  necessitous.  Mistah  Speak  Easy  is 
hyah  dis  ebenin'  at  ouah  invitation.  We  challenged 
his  club  to  a  'scussion  upon  de  great  question  ob  de 
day,  an'  his  club  sent  him  to  represent  dem  in  de  ali 
gnment.  Now,  ef  et  ain't  agreeable  to  ouah  folks  to 
heah  Mistah  Speak  Easy's  'bating,  et  ain't  necessitous 
fo'  us  to  listen.  But  on  de  same  reason  dere  ain't 
no  occasion  fo'  violence." 


49 


SHANTYTOWN   SKETCHES. 

A  great,  burly  negro,  at  a  far  end  of  the  hall,  sang 
out, — 

"Come  aroun'  some  oder  night, 
Fo'  dey's  gwyne  ter  be  a  fight, 
Dere'll  be  razors  a  flyin'  in  de  air." 

Mr.  Chairman  raised  his  hand,  and  called,  "Sil 
ence!"  Then  he  addressed  the  representative  of  the 
Anti-Blumer  Club. 

"Mistah  Speak  Easy,  yo'  know  de  motto  ob  ouah 
society  is  'Woman's  Rights.'  So  you's  rubbin'  us  on 
a  sore  place  when  yo'  runs  up  against  ouah  motto. 
\\  c's  a  high-spirited  lot  ob  niggahs  down  'n  dis  locali- 
tation,  an'  Ah  reckon  dat  we  can't  keep  calm  in  hear- 
in'  alignment  agin  ouah  motto.  Ef  yo'  will  do  us  de 
kindness  to  subsist  f'om  youah  recitation,  howevah, 
we  will  call  de  'bating  off  fo'  dis  ebenin'." 

Mr.  Speak  Easy  agreed  to  the  proposition;  he  had 
the  good  sense  to  see  that  numbers  were  against  him. 


Brother  Philander  Wampus  Winslow's 
Discourse  on  "De  Modern  People 
Am  Exactly  Laike  de  Ancients" 


BROTHER   WAMPUS   WINSLOW'S  DISCOURSE. 


[The   following  report  of  Mr.  Winslow's  speech  may  serve  to 
illustrate  the  power  of  elocution.] 


1ST  the  night  of  the  next  meeting  of  the  Grand 
Watermelon-Patch  Debating  Society,  Conver 
sation  Hall  was  filled  to  overflowing. 

Deacon  Jeremiah  Jefferson  delivered  a  long  ad 
dress,  the  subject  of  which  was  "I)e  Modern  People 
Am  Not  Laike  de  Ancients."  He  resinned  his  seat 
with  the  air  of  the  self-satisfied  victor  to  whom 
"honors  are  easy."  And  he  awaited  the  contradictory 
delivery  of  his  opponent,  Brother  Philander  Wampus 
Winslow. 

The  latter  arose  with  considerable  deliberation, 
and,  eyeing  the  audience  with  a  very  knowing  expres 
sion,  said, — 

"Leddies  an'  Gemrnen:  I'll  begin  mah  alignment 
by  sayin'  dat  what  Deacon  Jeremiah  Jefferson  said 
ain't  tme,  owin'  ter  de  fact  dat  Samson  war  laike  unto 
a  great  modern  actor,  'kase  he  brought  down  de  house ; 
dis  sayin'  am  entirely  original,  an'  am  chose  fo'  de 


SHA  NTYTO  WN   SKE  TCHES. 

express  purpose  ob  illustratin'  de  fact  dat  'de  modern 
people  am  exactly  laike  de  ancients.' 

"De  odder  day  I  heard  a  feller  say  dat  he  t'ought 
cinnamon  war  de  great  spice;  but,  leddies  an'  gem- 
men,  I  considah  nutmeg  greater  (grater). 

"Somebody  sez  dat  a  niggah's  skin  ain't  exactly 
black,  but  de  feller  what  sez  dat  am  color-blind  in 
my  opinion. 

"A  great  question  once  riz  as  to  weddah  de  mos' 
finest  gals  got  married  or  stayed  single;  an'  it  war 
decided  dat  de  mos'  finest  gals  stayed  single.  Now 
I  beg  to  differ,  an'  say  dat  mah  observation  has  been 
dat  de  mos'  finest  gals  get  married;  but  I'd  laike  to 
add  dat  I  don't  tink  de  gals'  fadders  realize  deir  value 
when  dey  'give  dem  away.' 

"Mah  grandmodder  used  to  be  a  bery  good  woman 
when  she  was  on  dis  firmament;  an'  one  ting  she  was 
bery  interested  in  waz  sewin'.  She  sewed  lots  fo'  de 
poor,  until  one  day  a  tramp  come  along,  an'  goin'  up 
to  mah  grandmodder,  he  took  a  button  out  of  his 
pocket,  an'  said:  'Please  sew  a  shirt  on  dis  fo'  me.' 
She  nebber  done  no  moah  sewin'  fo'  de  poor  after  dat; 
so  I  gib  you  dis  motto:  'Doan  hab  cheek.'  An'  now, 
leddies  an'  gemmen,  mah  savin'  am  said ;  but  go  away 
wid  mah  discourse  printed  upon  de  paper  ob  youah 

54 


BROTHER    WINSLOW'S   DISCOURSE. 

hearts^  an'  uebber  let  nobody  say  agin  dat  de  modern 
people  ain't  laike  de  ancients." 

Brother  Philander  Wampus  Winslow  resumed  his 
seat  amid  a  clamor  of  applause,  and  when  Deacon 
Jeremiah  Jefferson  arose  to  renew  his  argument,  he 
was  hissed  and  jeered  while  the  people  cried, — 

"Samson  am  laike  de  modern  actor  'kase  he  brought 
down  de  house." 

At  this  juncture  the  Judge  arose,  and,  calling  sil 
ence,  announced  that  Mr.  Philander  Wampus  Win- 
slow  had  made  "de  mos'  finest  speech,"  and  had, 
therefore,  won  the  debate.  He  concluded  by  saying: 
"I  mil  add  dat  I  am  requested  to  gib  de  following 
notice:  'De  Guild  fo'  de  Prevention  ob  Cruelty  to 
Chickens  will  meet  here  next  Wednesday  aftahnoon, 
at  foah  o'clock,  an'  Miss  Raspberry  Rosetree  will  be 
pleased  to  see  membahs*ob  de  flock  at  her  house  on 
next  Tuesday  aftahnoon,  to  meet  seberal  membahs  ob 
de  Gran'  Watermelon-Patch  Society.' ' 


55 


At  the  Theatre— 
From  the  Gallery  Standpoint 

and 

Politics 


WITH    GRACE   WELL    BEFITTING   THE   WINNERS    IN    THE    CAKE   WALK. 


M: 


attired  in  his  best  Sunday  clothes  as  he  led 
his  beaming  spouse  to  a  seat  in  the  "peanut  gallery" 
with  grace  well  befitting  one  who  had  so  recently 
taken  first  prize  in  the  "Grand  Philadelphia  Cake 
Walk."  When  the  asbestos  curtain  began  slowly  to 
ascend,  a  small  boy  sitting  next  to  Mr.  Lincoln  leaned 
eagerly  forward,  but  was  quickly  pulled  back  again 
by  a  man  who  demanded,  in  a  stern  voice, 

"Now,  mein  leedle  Jakey,  vat  vor  you  get  so  ox- 
cited  ven  de  fire-proof  gurtain  goes  up,  ain't  it?" 

"O  fader,"  the  boy  replied,  "I  alvays  like  to  get  me 
der  most  for  mein  money,  und  I  vant  to  see  all  vat 
dere  is  to  be  seen,  vrom  de  peginning  to  der  end!" 

This  answer  seemed  to  please  the  father,  who  patted 
his  son  on  the  back  and  murmured, 

"Leetle  Jakey  vill  make  ein  great  peeseness  man 
some  day!" 

"Good  avening,  Mister  Morgenstein,  faith  an  it's 
yourself  is  it,  thot  I  see  at  the  theaythre?"  said  a 
jovial-looking  Irishman,  who  was  just  about  to  take 
the  seat  next  to  Mr.  Morgenstein. 


59 


SHANTYTOWN    SKETCHES. 

"Ah,  Meester  Fitzgerald,  it  don't  vas  glad  I  am  to 
see  you,  und  how  fine  und  nobby  you  do  look  in  dem 
pants;  vy  dey  fits  you  like  der  paper  on  der  vail,  und 
I  also  tells  you  dat  you  vas  strikin'  ein  grand  pargain 
ven  I  sold  dem  to  you  dis  morning!" 

"Yes,  Mr.  Fitzgerald,  dem's  der  pants  vat  it  takes 
two  pairs  ohf  to  show  der  pattern!"  added  Jakey  en 
thusiastically. 

Further  conversation  was  cut  short  by  the  rising 
of  the  curtain. 

The  first  act  amused  all  our  friends,  who  sat  with 
wide-open  mouths  "taking  it  in;"  and  when  the  cur 
tain  fell,  Jakey  Morgenstein  and  his  father  clapped 
and  hurrahed,  while  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Lincoln  regarded 
them  with  a  supercilious  smile,  and  Mr.  Fitzgerald 
roared  with  laughter  until  the  next  act  began. 

A  midnight  scene  in  a  graveyard  made  Mrs.  Lin 
coln  shudder  and  hug  close  up  to  her  husband,  who 
instantly  assumed  an  unconscious  and  far-away  ex 
pression.  An  Italian,  sitting  next  to  Mrs.  Lincoln, 
frightened  her  all  the  more  by  grinding  his  teeth  and 
muttering  to  himself  whenever  the  banditti  on  the 
stage  brandished  their  long  knives. 

When  the  villain  stabbed  the  hero,  and  the  latter 
fell  from  a  seemingly  stupendous  height  to  the  floor 
of  the  stage,  Mr.  Fitzgerald  exclaimed, — 

"O  my,  but  thot  must  hov  hurt!" 

And  he  went  off  into  a  fit  of  laughter  which  lasted 
until  Mr.  Morgenstein  touched  him  on  the  shoulder 


M 


AT    THE    THEATRE. 

and  told  him  in  a  mysterious  whisper  that  it  was  not 
"good  peeseness  bolicy"  to  laugh  too  much.  During 
the  following  entre-acte  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Lincoln  went 
out  to  get  some  pink  lemonade,  and  Messrs.  Morgen- 
stein  and  Fitzgerald  remained  in  their  seats  and  re 
viewed  the  gossip  of  "Shantytown." 

"I  haven't  seen  Tim  Flynn  av  late;  ph  what's  be 
came  av  him?"  asked  Mr.  Fitzgerald. 

"Ach  he  vos  into  mein  shop  only  a  veek  ago,"  Mr. 
Morgenstein  said.  "He  left  ein  suit  ohf  glothes  uiid 
ein  vatch  mit  me,  but  said  he  vould  gome  pack  again 
for  dem  in  a  few  days.  Says  he,  'Der  height  ohf 
mein  ambition  vas  reached,  Isaac;  I  have  begome  ein 
actor  since  I  seen  you  last.'  He  said  he  vas  blayin' 
two  barts  down  to  der  Standard  Theatre." 

"Phwhat  wor  they;  'off  an'  on?'  "  suggested  Mr. 
Fitzgerald,  Avith  a  twinkle  in  his  eye. 

"He  didn't  say  oxactly  vat  der  names  ohf  der  parts 
vas,"  Mr.  Morgenstein  continued,  taking  his  friend's 
question  seriously,  "but  he  told  me  vat  he  had  to  do. 
Says  he,  'I  vear  a  heafy  suit  ohf  armor  in  der  first 
agt;  in  der  segond  agt  I  vear  a  pirate's  suit  und  gary 
ein  large  tin  sword  in  mein  hand.  In  der  third  act 
I  gome  out  dressed  in  der  armor  again.  Der  vas  ten 
oder  fellers  dressed  chust  like  me.  Ve  have  ein  cap 
tain  vat  does  all  der  talkin'  vor  us.  In  der  first  agt 
ve  sing  ein  gorus  to  a  song  vat  der  captain  sings  der 
vordts  ohf.  In  der  segond  agt  ve  have  to  make  ein 
lot  ohf  faces  und  say,  'Ve  vill,  ve  vill/  ven  der  cap- 


SHANTYTOWN   SKETCHES. 

tain  says,  'Shall  ve  steal  de  girl  from  her  fader's 
home?'  In  der  third  agt  ve  have  a  'scrap.'  Der 
captain  gets  de  girl.  Ve  gif  t'ree  cheers,  und  der 
gurtain  vails  vile  der  girl's  fader  vas  doin'  ein  song 
und  dance.' ' 

A  blank  expression  was  on  the  face  of  his  listener 
as  Mr.  Morgenstein  concluded.  The  speaker  himself 
did  not  appear  to  understand  the  exact  drift  of  what 
he  had  just  said.  The  mutual  conclusion  was,  how 
ever,  that  Tim  Flynn  was  on  the  road  to  fame  and 
fortune. 

When  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Lincoln  returned  to  their 
seats,  the  former  got  into  quite  a  spirited  discussion 
with  Mr.  Morgenstein,  who  accused  Mr.  Lincoln  of 
shutting  out  the  view,  tramping  on  his  feet,  and  dis 
turbing  his  comfort  generally,  when  he  and  his  wife 
clambered  past.  During  the  following  act  Mr.  Lincoln 
and  Mr.  Morgenstein  continued  their  discussion  in  an 
undertone  which,  by  degrees,  grew  more  lively,  and 
especially  so  when  two  little  darkies  appeared  and 
sang  "Ta-ra-ra-boom-de-aye."  Mr.  Lincoln  main 
tained  that  it  was  "a  shame  fo'  respectable  colored 
folks  to  let  themselves  be  made  such  fools  of  by  w'ite 
trash."  Mr.  Morgenstein  wanted  to  know  where  the 
"white  trash"  was,  and  he  scoffed  at  the  idea  that  any 
colored  folks  were  "respectable"  in  comparison  with 
"der  vite  gentlemens  at  der  blay." 

Mr.  Fitzgerald  leaned  over  and  made  some  loud 
and  stinging  remarks  about  "niggers  and  hen-coops." 

62 


AT    THE    THEATRE. 

At  this  juncture  the  actors  stopped  in  the  perfor 
mance,  while  cries  of  "Go  it  there!"  "Silence!"  and 
"Put  'em  out!"  arose  from  various  quarters  of  the 
building;  Messrs.  Morgenstein  and  Lincoln  found 
themselves  the  central  objects  of  all  eyes. 

But  Mr.  Lincoln  felt  equal  to  the  occasion.  Arising, 
he  leaned  over  the  railing,  and  thus  addressed  the 
audience:  "Gemmen  and  leddies  ob  dese  hyar  United 
States!" 

"S — s — sh!"  cried  the  people. 

"Oh,  I  beg  de  leddies'  pahdons,  I  should  hab  said 
de  leddies  and  geimuen;  I  proceeded  wid  mah  con- 
bersation  jess  ez  ef  I  war  one  ob  de  w'ite  folks  down 
dere,  fo'  I  knowed  dat  war  de  right  way  to  do  in  de 
freatre,  kase  I'se  often  be'n  up'n  de  top  gallery  w'en 
de  w'ite  folks  in  de  freatre  pahties  talked  so  loud  dat 
de  people  wot  war  actin'  couldn't  remember  deir  own 
elocutions." 

The  noise  and  excitement  had  become  intense. 
"Put  him  out!  Put  him  out!"  the  people  cried,  and 
several  ushers  came  rushing  towards  Mr.  Lincoln. 

"Guess  we'd  bettah  take  ouah  departure  from  dis 
w'ite  trash  hole,  Saliana!"  said  the  latter  to  his  ad 
miring  spouse;  and,  giving  her  his  arm,  the  two 
walked  grandly  out. 

The  noise  ceased,  the  audience  quieted  down  again, 
and  Mr.  Morgenstein  rubbed  his  hands  with  delight, 
remarking  to  Jakey,  "I  got  der  pest  ohf  der  pargain 
dot  dime!" 


POLITICS. 


"James  Mooney,  now  yew  hurry  up,  an'  don't 
be  all  day  about  it  neither.  My  lands,  we'll  miss 

thet  boat  to  the  picnic,  f er  sure ! 1  declare,  yew 

stop. to  chin  with  every  Tom,  Dick  and  Harry 
everywhere." 

"All  right,  Minty,  but  you  would  have  me  go 
into  politics,  an'  this  is  what  you  get.  You  told 
me  to  make  a  name  for  myself.  I  have  to  be 
pleasant  to  every  body  so  as  to  become  popular 
against  election  day  .  .  .  ' 

"How-de-do,  Jim.  Please  gib  me  ten  dollahs. 
Dere's  a  powr'ful  la'ge  fambily  down  mah  way  ct 
needs  convertin';  dey're  dead  agin  us  now,  an'  a 
tenner'll  bring  'em  roun'.  Ef  we  gets  'em,  we  gets 
de  wahd  (ward),  fo'  dey  hab  a  lot  ob  fren's  dat 
always  relies  on  dere  perlitical  jedgment  fo'  de  way 
dey  casts  dere  votes." 

"All  right,  Sam;  don't  explain  any  more.  'Ere's 
the  money.  An'  low  me  to  present  you  to  me 
wife.  Minty,  this  is  Mister  Waters." 

"I  think  the  boat'll  be  movin'  over  the  waters  ef 
we  don't  git  aboard.  I'm  goin',  an'  yew  kin  foller, 
ef  yew  want." 

(Mr.  Mooney,  in  an  undertone  to  his  wife.) 
"Say  how-d'y,  Minty,  an'  be  polite  an'  cordial,  or 
we'll  lose  the  nigger  vote." 

64 


POLITICS. 

"Ah  trust  mail  presence  doan  gib  no  offence, 
Mistah  MooiH'v  r 

"Not  at  all,  Sam.  Drop  round  to  dinner  with  us 
to-morrow." 

Mrs.  Mooney  grew  pale  with  rage,  turned  upon 
her  heel,  and  walked  away.  Her  husband  re 
mained  a  moment  to  conciliate  the  negro,  explain 
ing  that  Mrs.  Mooney  "had  one  of  her  spells;" 
when  he  rejoined  his  wife  he  reproved  her  for  her 
lack  of  co-operation. 

Mrs.  Mooney  replied, — "Well,  sakes  alive,  Jim! 
Did  George  Washington,  er  Grove  Cleveland,  er 
Julius  Caesar,  er  Patrick  Spootendyke  ever  'nvite 
niggers  to  their  family  table  to  git  their  vote?  Ef 
they  did,  et  ain't  in  history!" 

"There's  a  good  many  things  wot  happened  wot 
ain't  written  in  history,  Miiity." 

"Well,  may  6e,  but  I  ain't  a  goiii'  to  hev  my 
family  history  tarnished  by  any  such  acts — 

"It's  money  I'm  afther,  an'  shure  Moonev  has  it! 
Ah!  Ha!  Ha!" 

"Why,  hello  Pat!      How  much?" 
"Tin,     ter    change    the    faith    av    some     unbe 
lievers." 

Mr.  Mooney  whispered  to  his  wife, — "It's  me 
last  money,  an'  if  I  give  it  to  him  we  can't  go  to 
the  picnic." 

Mrs.  Mooney  compressed  her  lips,  and  then  an 
swered, — 

"I'll  be  brave,  Jim,  an'  give  up  the  pleasure. 
Fer  sartain,  it's  dooty  before  pleasure;  so  serve  yer 
country  an'  pay  the  price,  ef  yew  think  the  mo 
ney's  needed  fer  yer  cause." 

65 


SHANTYTOWN  SKETCHES. 

So  Mooney's  last  teii  dollars  were  handed  to  Pat, 
the  ward-heeler,  and  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Mooney  return 
ed  homeward  with  the  prospect  of  spending  a  hot 
Sunday  in  town,  but  with  the  feeling  that  they  had 
made  another  speculation  in  Mooney's  rising  stock 
of  popularity. 

And  now  little  remains  to  be  told.  Mooney  is 
at  present  serving  the  United  States  as  a  full- 
fledged  politician,  and  he  hopes,  next  term,  to  be 
nominated  Senator. 

His  admirers  declare  that  "he  is  cut  out  to  be 
the  'Speaker  of  the  House.' '  They  deem  him  "a 
born  orator." 

To  enlarge  Mooney's  circle  of  admirers,  and  to 
secure  for  him,  if  possible,  the  confidence  of  the 
reading  public,  it  might  be  well  to  append  his 
famous  speech  that  won  for  him  his  first  political 
victory.  He  wrote  and  delivered  it  himself — and 
here  it  is: 

"FELLOW-CITIZENS: — I  do  not  presume  to  stand 
before  you  this  afternoon  trusting  in  my  own  abili 
ty  and  influence,  but  trusting  rather  in  the  ability 
and  ever-increasing  power  of  our  great  party." 
(Applause)  "Our  party,  friends,  is  like  the  em 
blem  of  our  mighty  country,  the  bald-headed  eagle. 

"As  this  noble  bird  first  fluttered  forth  from  the 
grand  old  State  House  on  the  day  of  the  signing  of 
the  Declaration  of  Independance,  so  our  party  had 
its  origin.  As  the  power  of  the  great  Union  in 
creased,  and,  as  its  emblem,  the  eagle,  stretched 
forth  its  wings  and  soared  into  the  air  above  us,  so 
the  power  of  our  party  grew  steadily,  both  in  in 
fluence  and  numbers.  As  the  noble  bird  received 

66 


POLITICS. 

the  gory  wound,  which  brought  it  temporarily  to 
the  ground,  when  the  Civil  War  broke  forth,  so 
has  our  party  received  set  backs  during  opposing 
administrations.  But  these  set-backs  have  only 
been  temporary,  my  friends.  As  the  noble  eagle 
recovered  from  its  wounds  and  arose  stronger  than 
ever,  when  the  bloody  Civil  War  had  ended,  so  our 
party  has  come  out  victorious  and  more  powerful 
than  ever  after  its  temporary  defeats.  As  the  eagle 
i i  rose  triumphant,  I  repeat,  when  that  great  inter 
nal  eruption  was  over,  and  as  since  that  it  has  risen 
ever  higher,  until  in  the  most  exalted  heavens  it 
finally  stretches  forth  its  golden  pinions  over  all 
the  world,,  so  is  our  party  steadily  growing.  At 
no  distant  day  I  prophesy  that  it  will  be  the  only 
power  in  America! 

"The  great  American  people  is  composed  of  two 
classes — the  laboring  men  and  the  business  men. 
Which  is  the  largest  and  more  patriotic  class?  Who 
are  the  true  Americans?  The  laboring  men!  Our 
party!  The  only  party!"  (Prolonged  applause.) 
"To  gain  our  ends  we  must  have  representatives  in 
politics;  we  must  have  friends  there  to  look  after 
our  interests  and  to  give  us  a  voice  in  the  Govern 
ment.  Now,  I  do  not  ask  you  to  vote  for  me.  Far 
be  it  from  that.  But,  friends,  dear  friends,  I  would 
die  at  any  moment  for  the  defence  of  our  cause.  I 
know  you  all,  and  you  are  dearer  to  me  than  my 
life.  This  ward,  the  greatest  ward  in  our  noble 
city,  should  be  ably  represented.  Mr.  -  — , 

my  worthy  competitor,  who  represents  the  oppos 
ing  party,  is  a  business  man.  He  lives  for  his  own 
ends.  I  am  a  laboring  man.  I  work  for  my 
friends  and  serve  them  with  heart  and  soul." 

67 


NEW    PUBLICATIONS. 


"Mr.  Biddle  strikes  a  lead  when  he  turns  to  the  children.  The 
success  of  his  first, 

THE  FROGGY  FAIRY  BOOK 

(Now  in  its  Third  Thousand) 

shows  that  as  a  writer  for  small  people  he  is  entitled  to  considera 
tion.  This  is  a  rare  and  rich  accomplishment.  He  has  just  pub 
lished  a  beautiful  book  of  fairy  tales, 

THE  SECOND 
FROGGY  FAIRY  BOOK 

and  it  will  certainly  bring  joy  to  thousands  of  children.  The  books 
are  exquisitely  printed  and  bound."— The  Buffalo  Express. 

"Anthony  J.  Drexel  Biddle's  'Froggy  Fairy  Books'  promise  to 
become  as  necessary  to  the  childish  mind  as  the  far-famed  'Alice 
In  Wonderland'  books." — .Lou  A.nyi-l<'s  Times. 

What  the  British  I'ress  says. 

"Elsie  Lee  is  as  American  as  'Alice  in  Wonderland"  is  English. 
It  is  a  pretty  and  healthy  story,  which  is  certain  to  delight  all 
good  children." — The  Scotsman,  IZdiitlniryh- 

"...  Remarkably  clever,  and  the  long-haired  young  lady 
who  has  wandered  into  Frogland  .is  charmingly  contrasted  with 
frogs,  who  figure  as  portly  elderly  gentlemen,  or  are  got  up  like 
respectable  family  butlers." — The  London  Times. 

"A  fanciful  piece  of  work,  amusingly  and  prettily  told."— The 
London  Star. 

"It  is  written  in  the  direct  style  of  the  old-fashioned  fairy  tale. 
.     .     .     In  addition  the  story  is  interspersed  with  various  comic 
rhymes  and  poems." — The  Manchester   Guardian. 

"The  book  is  in  every  way  calculated  to  please  the  little  folk 
for  whom  it  is  intended,  and  by  whom  a  much  better  present  could 
scarcely  be  desired." — The  Western  Daily  Mercury,  Plymouth,  Etiy. 

The  above  work  is  for  sale  by  all  booksellers,  or  will  be  sent  by 
Drexel  Biddle,  Publisher,  postage  prepaid,  to  any  part  of  the  United 
States,  Canada,  or  Mexico,  or  by  Gay  &  Bird,  to  any  part  of  Great 
Britain,  on  receipt  of  the  price. 


li 


From  "  The  Second  Froggy  Fairy  Book"  copyright,  1897,  by  Drexel  Biddle. 
MOTHER  GRUMBLE  AND  THE  SHAMROCK  GARDENER  AT  THE  FAIRY  BALL. 


NEW   PUBLICATIONS. 


"The  present  set  of  fantastic  adventures  of  a  girl  just  like 
'Alice  in  Wonderland' is  not  loss  likely  to  please."—  The  Scotsman. 
Krtiitbtirgh. 

"The  Christmas  books  of  Mr.  A.  J.  Urexol  Biddle,  the  American 
writer  and  publisher,  are  becoming  increasingly  popular." — Lo-ndon 
Literary  World. 

"Mr.  Drexel  Biddle,  of  Philadelphia,  has  published  a  new  edi- 
tio'n  of  'The  Froggy  Fairy  Book,'  by  Anthony  J.  Drexel  Biddle. 
The  binding  and  the  Illustrations,  which  are  by  Mr.  John  R. 
Skeen,  might  almost  suffice  to  account  for  the  remarkable  popu 
larity  of  the  little  volume.  On  the  other  hand,  however,  it  must 
be  admitted  that  without  either  of  these  adjuncts  the  mere  text 
would  have  been  quite  deserving  of  the  favor  to  which  three  edi 
tions  in  less  than  six  months  abundantly  testify.  Taking  it  alto 
gether,  the  book  is  the  very  thing  to  delight  children."— Gtaxyotr 
Herald. 

"It  is  unnecessary  to  explain  the  'plot'  of  this  most  entertain 
ing  fairy  tale.  Suffice  it  to  say  that  it  contains  all  the  elements 
of  wonder  required  to  gain  for  it  the  approbation  of  the  children, 
while  the  excellent  pictures  are  in  themselves  ;iu  exhaustless 
source  of  interest." — The  Dundee  Advert  ivr. 

"A  funny  book  for  children,  which  has  obtained  a  great  vogue." 
—Pall  Mall  Gazette. 

Latest,  Opinions  of  the  American  Critics. 

"  'The  Froggy  Fairy  Book'  has  reached  conclusive  proof  of  its 
popularity  in  swift  succeeding  editions,  and  one  can  only  predict 
that  this  second  volume  is  likely  to  follow  in  the  footsteps  of  the 
first,  for  its  adventures  are  as  wildly  fantastic  and  its  illustrations 
as  taking." — ProvMi-in-f  -Timrnnl. 

"It  is  spoken  of  in  the  highest  terms  by  the  press  and  literary 
critics  on  both  continents." — Scran-ton  I{c2>nblic<in. 

"A  more  delightful  child's  book  has  never  appeared." — Indian 
apolis  Sentinel. 

"In  the  making  of  books  the  children  should  never  be  forgotten, 
and  few  prose  writers  since  Hans  Christian  Anderson  have  given 
them  such  unalloyed  joy  as  Anthony  J.  Drexel  Biddle.  His  'Froggy 
Fairy  Book'  has  been  very  favorably  reviewed  in  this  column  of 

The  above  work  is  for  sale  by  all  booksellers,  or  will  be  sent  by 
Drexel  Biddle,  Publisher,  postage  prepaid,  to  any  part  of  the  United 
States,  Canada,  or  Mexico,  or  by  Qay  &  Bird,  to  any  part  of  Great 
Britain,  on  receipt  of  the  price. 


NEW   PUBLICATIONS. 


the  Press,  and  his  'Second  Froggy  Fairy  Book'  is,  if  possible,  an 
improvement  upon  the  first.  It  is  just  out,  beautifully  illustrated 
by  Anne  Penuoek,  and  the  stories  short  and  varied,  will  be  a 
source  of  great  delight  to  the  little  ones.  Let  me  say  right  here 
that  if  any  person  imagines  the  youngsters  have  no  pronounced 
literary  tastes  he  is  mistaken.  The  child  is  father  of  the  man 
and  a  verdict  from  the  grand  jury  of  the  junior  Americans,  with 
out  regard  to  age,  sex,,  color  or  previous  condition  of  servitude, 
is  a  testimonial  to  the  ability  to  instruct  and  amuse  of  which  An 
thony  J.  Drexel  Biddle  may  well  be  proud,  as  evinced  in  the 
sales  of  his  books.  The  adventures  of  Elsie  Lee  in  Frogland  con 
tinued,  increase  the  interest  in  her  travels." — Pittnburg  Press. 

"Full  of  fascination  is  it  for  the  average  child,  to  whom  Froggy 
the  Fiddler  will  doubtless  become  as  real  as  Old  King  Cole." — 
JBattitnorf  World. 

"The  Froggy  Fairy  Book  has  given  pleasure  to  thousands  of 
juvenile  readers.  It  would  be  hard  to  lind  a  book  so  well  adapted 
to  giving  pleasure  to  young  folks." — Savannah-  Ken-s. 

"Popular  from  the  moment  of  its  publication." — Book  ffntfs. 

"The  success  with  which  Anthony  J.  Drexel  Riddle's  first 
juvenile  romance  met,  has  induced  this  popular  author  to  write 
another  edition  of  his  story.  If  such  a  thing  were  possible  the  last 
is  even  better  than  the  first.  Mr.  Biddle  has  that  rare  ability  to 
make  his  subject  interesting  for  his  little  readers.  It  is  illus 
trative  of  an  imaginative  genius  which  realizes  that  the  age  de 
mands  more  than  the  exercise  of  a  mania  for  character  analysis. 
The  book  is  replete  with  childish  interest  and  is  a  wonder  of  the 
bookmaker's  art." — I,ea<lvilli--  Mim-r. 

"Sure  of  a  welcome." — ACM.-   York  Press. 

"Has  to  do  with  butterflies,  grasshoppers,  and  fairies." — New 
York  Times. 

"Some  attractive  children's  books  have  appeared  from  the  pen 
of  that  clever  caterer  for  young  readers,  Anthony  J.  Drexel 
Biddle.  Of  these,  his  'Froggy  Fairy  Books'  are  especially  well 
known."— Worcester  Sjiy. 

"Iii  the  wider  realm  of  imaginative  writing  Mr.  Biddle  is  at 
his  best,  and  is  second  to  no  other."— Rochester  Herald. 


The  above  work  is  for  sale  by  all  booksellers,  or  will  be  sent  by 
Drexel  Biddle,  Publisher,  postage  prepaid,  to  any  part  of  the  United 
States,  Canada,  or  Mexico,  or  by  Gay  &  Bird,  to  any  part  of  Great 
Britain,  on  receipt  of  the  price. 


New  Editions  For  Sale  by  all  Booksellers. 

The  Froggy  Fairy  Book.  With  nine  beautiful  full-page  illus 
trations  by  J.  R.  Skeen.  8vo,  cloth.  Price,  50  cents;  do  luxe  edi 
tion,  .$1.25. 

The  Second  Froggy  Fairy  Book.  Superbly  illustrated  with  pen 
and  color  full-page  and  inter  text  drawings  by  well-known  artists, 
printed  on  heavy  satin-finished  paper,  and  bound  in  blue  silk  cloth 
stamped  in  gold,  silver,  and  red.  A  gift-book  appropriate  for  all 
presentation  occasions.  Price,  75  cents. 


JN    IMMEDIATE    PREPARATION 

BY 

A.  J.   DREXEL    BIDDLE, 

Fellow  of  the  American  Geographical  Society, 

A  New,  Enlarged,  and  thoroughly  Revised  Edition  of 

THE  MADEIRA  ISLANDS. 

To  contain  nearly  fifty  full-page  illustrations  and  numerous 
maps,  together  with  additional  chapters  on  the  History, 
the  Vine,  the  Wine,  and  the  Flora. 


"It  has  been  left  for  an  American  to  give  us  the  first  illus 
trated  book  on  'The  Madeira  Islands.'  The  author  is  Mr.  Anthony 
J.  Drexel  Kiddle,  who  has  already  made  considerable  contributions 
to  contemporary  literature." — The.  Sheffield  (England)  Tclef/rn/th. 

"  .  .  .  As  for  the  text,  suffice  it  to  say  that  the  author  tells 
all  that  is  worth  knowing  about  the  islands.  He  has  evidently 
studied  them  and  their  history  thoroughly,  going  back  to  the  time 
when  they  were  discovered  and  settled,  and  telling  us  how  they 
have  fared  from  that  time  until  now.  Of  life  in  the  islands  at 
present  he  draws  a  graphic  and  interesting  picture,  and  altogether 
his  book  can  be  recommended,  not  only  to  historical  students  and 
to  those  who  may  intend  to  visit  the  Madeiras,  but  also  to  those 
who,  though  unable  for  various  reasons  to  spend  much  time  in 
I  ravelling,  are  yet  always  eager  to  obtain  new  information  about 
foreign  and  little-known  countries." — The  \<-n-  }"«/•/.-  Herald. 


PHILADELPHIA  : 

DREXEL  BIDDLE,  Publisher, 

"Walnut  Street. 


NEW   PUBLICATIONS. 


THE  FLOWERS  OF  LIFE 


BY 

A.  J.  D.  B. 


"The  author  has  here  gathered  something  more  than  a  dozen 
of  his  latest  articles,  in  prose  and  verse,  which  cover  a  wide  range 
of  subjects.  Those  who  have  read  and  admired  his  terse  writings 
in  former  publications  will  welcome  this  compilation,  which  is 
put  up  in  fine  though  not  extravagant  style,  and  is  well  adapted 
to  presentation  occasions,  whether  formal  or  intended  simply  as  a 
personal  memento." — Good  IL»nsrkeepinf/. 

"There  are  few  cleaner,  more  profitable  and  withal  interesting 
additions  to  the  literature  of  the  day  than  those  contributed  by 
Anthony  J.  Drexel  Biddle.  Bound  as  they  are  in  attractive,  bright 
and  tasteful  colors  they  may  be  regarded  as  a  minis  the  confections 
of  the  book  case.  The  latest  is  entitled  'The  Flowers  of  Life,' 
consisting  of  a  compilation  of  short  sketches,  some  of  which  are 
revised  from  an  admirable  brochure  by  the  same  author,  entitled 
'An  Allegory  and  Three  Essays.'  which  attained  a  world-wide 

celebrity The  loves,  the  hatreds  and  vicissitudes 

of  even  insect  life  and  death  are  not  the  least  appreciable  in  this 
excellent  collection  of  terse  triumphs  in  thought." — The  Pittsbiirtj 
J'ress. 

"There  is  a  blend  of  delightful  imagery  and  felicity  of  ex 
pression  with  a  highly  moral  thought  and  tone  through  the  book." 
—The  Sheffield  (Enaland)  Independent. 

"Having  a  general  tendency  to  improve  the  minds  and  human 
ise  the  thoughts  of  readers." — The    Toronto    (Canada)    Mail    and 
Empire, 

"Subjects  of  deep  import  to  mankind  in  general." — 77< r  ]'r<»-- 
idfnce  Journal. 

"Mr.  Biddle  has  attracted  marked  attention  by  his  work  dur 
ing  the  past  few  years.  He  possesses  a  fine  literary  instinct,  and 
his  allegories  are  full  of  deep  thought." — Waxhinjiton  ttitr. 

The  above  work  is  for  sale  by  all  booksellers,  or  will  be  sent  by 
Drexel  Biddle,  Publisher,  postage  prepaid,  to  any  part  of  the  United 
States,  Canada,  or  Mexico,  or  by  Gay  &  Bird,  to  any  part  of  Great 
Britain,  on  receipt  of  the  price. 


NEW   PUBLICATIONS. 


"  'The  Flowers  of  Life'  Is  a  book  with  a  purpose,  being  com 
posed  of  sketches,  poetry,  and  epigrams,  every  one  of  which 
breathes  forth  an  earnest  conviction.  It  Is  a  book  rich  in  its  sug 
gestions,  the  fruit  of  an  able  conscientious  writer."—  Koston  Times. 

"Contains  many  of  the  best  essays  and  poems  of  this  rising 
American  journalist  and  author,  and  is  a  work  worthy  of  an  older 
genius  than  Mr.  Biddle."—  Scranton  Republican. 

"Convey,  In  brief  form  and  simple  language,  some  of  the  deep 
est  lessons  of  life.  The  thought,  style  and  sentiment  are  of  rare 
beauty,  and  it  is  impossible  not  to  be  impressed  with  their  phil 
osophy.  The  allegories  in  particular  are  sure  to  rank  very  high 
in  literature,  and  their  brevity  and  simplicity  make  it  almost  im 
possible  to  avoid  being  impressed  with  the  lesson  which  they  are 
intended  to  teach." — Fittsborg  Titm-is. 

"An  exceedingly  pretty  book  inside  and  out,  in  matter  as  well 
as  in  appearance,  and  Is  worthy  of  particular  notice  as  a  volume 
that  is  appropriate  as  a  gift  to  readers  of  all  ages,  because  it  is 
chaste  in  style  and  in  thought,  full  of  sound  moral  lessons,  not 
imposed  with  the  seriousness  of  a  sermon,  but  instilled  in  the 
easy,  graceful  way  that  follows  the  telling  of  a  good  story  that 
is  well  told." — Brooklyn  Citizen. 

"That  A.  J.  Drexel  Biddle  is  a  bookmaker  is  evidenced  by  the 
handsome  little  volume  just  published  from  the  Drexel  Biddle 
(Philadelphia)  Press,  entitled  'The  Flowers  of  Life.'  All  the 
various  needs  of  a  good  book  appear  to  be  familiar  to  him,  from 
the  writing  to  the  binding.  In  this  book  are  specimens  of  his 
style  in  every  form,  poems,  prose,  sketches,  etc."—  Toronto  (Canada) 
Neivs. 

"A  book  full  of  human  interest,  covering  a  great  deal  of  in 
formation  not  easily  obtained  elsewhere;  a  good  book  for  the 
young." — Brooklyn  Citizen. 

"It  is  one  of  the  ideal  gift  books." — Burlington  Hatrk-JSi/e. 


For  sale,  tastefully  and  strongly  bound  in  blue,  white,  yellow 
and  gold  cloth,  gilt  top,  extra  heavy  paper,  lamo.,  pp.  88,  for  90 
cents,  by  all  booksellers. 

LONDON : 

GAY  &   BIRD,  22   Bedford   Street,  Strand. 


PHILADELPHIA  : 
DREXEL  BIDDLE,  "Walnut   Street, 


